Hartford Woman Sentenced To 20 Months In Prison For Role In Heroin Trafficking Ring

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that NORMA TORRES, 56, of Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 20 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for her role in a heroin trafficking ring.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from “Operation Solid Sweep,” a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department into gang-related narcotics trafficking in Hartford’s South End. The investigation specifically targeted a drug trafficking organization headed by Angel Rosa, also known as “Little” and “Daddy, who is a member of the Los Solidos street gang. Rosa’s cousin, Angel Rosa, also known as “Mo Betta” and “Fab,” supervised the daily operations of the organization, which distributed heroin and other narcotics in the Zion Street area.

As a result of the investigation, 21 individuals were charged with various federal offenses, and law enforcement officers seized narcotics, one firearm, approximately $230,000 in cash, eight vehicles and jewelry.

The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance, revealed that TORRES assisted the conspiracy by allowing her apartment, located at 592 Zion Street, to be used as a “stash house,” storing five to 15 stacks of heroin at her residence every day. A stack of heroin consists of 100 dose bags, with each bag containing approximately .025 grams of heroin.

TORRES was arrested on April 11, 2013. On November 14, 2013, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute heroin.